Plant-support.



B. K! PITTMAN & E. N. KRING.

I PLANT SUPPORT- nrmonxox FILED mm: 11,1908.

91 7,655 Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

unrrnn srarps' grnnr orator.

BALTZER 1i. PITTMAN AND EDWARD KRING, OF FAIRBURY, ILLINOlS.

PLANT-SUPPORT.

f0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BALTZER K. Pi'r'n MAN and Enwann N. Kaine, citizens of the United States, residing at Fail-bury. i": the county of Livingston and State of Ellinois, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Plant-Supports; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention re ates to trellises or plant supports, and is particularly designed for supporting cal-nations.

The invention also relates to the class of plant supports in which a central upright frame terminates at its lower end in forks adapted to enter the ground. said frame supporting a series of rings inclosing the stems of growing )lants, said rings being in a horizontal plane and vertically adjustable upon said upright frame.

The object of the invention is to provide a supporting devi -e for tlower plants that can be quickly applied and readily adjusted.

Another object of this invention to provide an improved construction for the central upright frame in a tiowcr support of the c ass described, whereby a better ant-hora. in. the ground is secured and a stable upri ht position is assured.

it further object of the invnition is to provide improved rings for enveloping stems of growing plants and the connecting parts of said rings whereby the number of ring"? 17011 one supporting frame may be incitased to the maximum number pra ctical.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for a rigid support of said rings upon the central supporting frame.

With these and other objects in view our invention comprises certain constructions. combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the acconipanying drawings: Figure a perspective view of one embodiment or our invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a four ringed flower stem holder. and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a two ringed llower stem holder.

In the construction of our invention we provide a central upright frame which consists of four vertical and parallel sections 1111. These sections are rigidly Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. June 11, 1908.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Serial No. 437,960.

united at the upper end of the frame as shown at 3 and are also rigidly united as shown at 2, then bent at right angles as shown at 2 and again bent at right angles as shown at 2, 2 2 and 2 to form legs to be inserted in the flower bet. By this construction a framework is formed having a plurality of upright sections or members that are firmly held in their respective places by a turn in one of the wires at and the wrapping of the wires together at 2. The wires after having been wappcd together at 2 are bent for forming the respective legs 1 1*, 1, and 1. These legs may be spaced any desired distance from the stem of the frame, namely, the twisted portion 2 and form bracing and securing means that will prevent the main framework or sections comprising members 1 from being upset.

In Fig. 2 a four ringed stem holder 9 is shown which is preferably formed of a single section of wire or other material, and

is provided with rings 5 5 5, 5 and are connected together by the sections P. r +1.". t. Extensions 5 -5 are provided with bent portions =3-5 that project outxmrdl) and are a laptcd to embrace two of the sec-- tions fl 1. This construction permits the entire member shown in Fig. 2 to be ap pl ed to the upper end of the supporting frame 3, and by pressing the same downward the upright members 1-1 are engaged by parts of the four ringed flower support which may be vertically adjusted upon said central support. It will be observed that the members 5 -5 form resilient clamping means th: t engage two of the uprights or sections 11 for holding the stem holder in position, the respective bars 4 e, 4+." and r acting as braces and assisting the clamping members 55 It to be observed the four ringed flower stem holder may be put in position upon the central, upright with the projecting parts 5 -5 upon the upper surface as shown in Fi 1, or the entire four ringed flower holder may be inverted to cause the projecting parts S -5 to extend below the plane of the said flower s em holder and still engage two of the upright sections 1 1 of the central upright support. It is also to be observed that two or more four ringed flower stem holders shown in Fig. 2 may be applied at different altitudes upon the central upright as the growing plant may require.

In Fig. i) a flower stem holder is shown having two rings 7 7 with connecting parts 8S bent at 8 and with the curved portions 8, and extension 7 with an outward projecting portion 7 similar to 5 for adapting the holder for use by applying to the upright central frame and permitting the engagement of three of the upright sections 1-l1 on the central support. This form of stem holder or support is adapted to receive the stems of only two plants and may be applied and removed whenever desired, and also may be used by itself or with another holder having rings arranged as T and 7, or may be used in connection with the holder shown in in which four rings are presented.

The function of the extensions 55 Fig. 1, with the outward projecting parts 5 -5 and also of the projecting extension 7 with its outward projecting part 7 is to cause additional rigidity by firmly engaging or clamping two of the upright sections 1-1 at a point above or below the plane of the ring holders.

In use the legs 1 1 1 and 1 are inserted in the ground and also the horizontal parts radiating from the center of the supporting frame at 2 are covered with dirt, then two or more four ringed flower stem holders are placed upon the central supporting fame. The stems of four plants may be inserted in the rings and all held in a rigid position by one central supporting frame. When the device is to be used in a single row of plants the two ring flower supporting parts shown at Fig. 3 may be placed upon the upright frame.

The frame is composed of the sections 1 l--l-1 and the stem 2 is held in position by the respective legs 1 ,1". 1 and 1' and by the reason of the fact that the legs are spread out to a considerable distance and positioned at right angles to each other the framework is braced substal'itially in all directions, and will thereby resist strain or any tendency to knock over the same. This frame may be usedthen for supporting stem holders of the kind shown in Fig. 2 upon which are presented four rings for inclosing the plant stem, the stem holders as shown in Fig. may be used. Also it will be evident that one kind of each holder may be used if so desired. In addition it;- will be'noted that the respective stem holders may be applied. and removed at will without removing the support from the ground so that when only one holder is placed upon the support for holding the stem of flowers for a certain length of time and it is desired to add another holder, the second. holder may be added Without removing the support on the first holder.

What we claim is:

1. In a ower support, a plurality of uprights, a plurality of stem-engaging members having integral stem portions formed to engage certain of said uprights, and bracing means engaging certain other of said uprights.

2. In a flower support a support formed with four parallel sections, four supporting feet extending therefrom and positioned at right angles to each other, said feet being adapted to enter the earth, in combination with removable holders for supporting the stems of flowers.

3. In a flower support, a supporting memher, feet extending therefrom adapted to enter the earth for supporting said support, and a four ringed stem holder, said four ringed stem holder being formed with clamping means for clamping said support.

4. In a flower support, a frame formed of four uprights, a stem, a foot for each of said uprights extending from said stem and adapted to enter the earth, a holder formed of four rings, and clamping members, said clamping members being adapted to clamp all of said uprights.

5. In a flower support, a plurality of uprights, a plurality of rings having integral stem portions bent to engage certain of said uprights, and resilient bracing means engaging certain other of said uprights.

(3. In a flower support, a plurality of connected uprights, a plurality of flower stem engaging members having integral stem portions bent to engage certain of said uprights, the said stem portions being formed with integral bracing means engaging certain other of said uprights.

7. In a flower support, a plurality of connected uprights, a plurality of flower stem engaging elements having connecting portions bent to engage certain of the uprights, and means upon the said connecting portion for engaging another of said uprights for bracing said means.

In testimony whereof we our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

BALTZER K. PITTMAN. EDWARD N. KRING. itnesses MARGARET DIMMICK, ETHEL Simmons. 

